/ba tooh", -tyooh"/ ; Fr. /bann tyuu"/ , n. , pl. battues /-toohz", -tyoohz"/ ; Fr. /-tyuu"/ . Chiefly Brit.
1. Hunting.
a. the beating or driving of game from cover toward a stationary hunter.
b. a hunt or hunting party using this method of securing game.
2. undiscriminating slaughter of defenseless or unresisting crowds.
[ 1810-20; battu, ptp. of battre battuere to beat. See BATTUTA, BATTLE 1 ]